“The strategy of the hunt is simple. You and Hawk Soaring will move up hill and lie in wait. Elk Runner and I, with the dog’s help, will drive the sheep your way.” It all sounded easy enough, Chase decided. All he needed to learn now was how to shoot an arrow from that bow Elk Runner had gifted him.
Chase marveled at how the three men efficiently set up camp. No one spoke. Each individual knew what to do. Everyone except him. Daniel put him to task to collect wood and build a fire. At least he could manage that. Hawk went off and brought back several birds.
Elk Runner took it upon himself to pull Chase aside and instruct him in stringing his bow, the amount of force to use in his draw, and releasing the arrow.
Chase quickly realized how powerful a weapon the bow was. He’d never expected such force and speed from an arrow. His aim improved with each practice pull. Whether he would be able to hit a moving target remained to be seen.
He noticed Hawk watching him like a ….. hawk. Chase couldn’t be sure what the other man was thinking when he looked at him across the camp. Chase only hoped he didn’t look as inept as he felt.
But it’s your kisses she prefers, Russell. He smiled smugly. He conceded that Hawk was a nice and likable guy, and under different circumstances, if they weren’t both after the same girl, they might have even been friends.
If you leave, she’ll be well taken care of. Hawk would make a good husband, he was sure of it. Could he leave this place, and Sarah, with that knowledge? That she could chose to marry Hawk? An idea had begun to form in his mind over the course of the last week, but Chase wasn’t sure how he would be able to go through with it. He’d have to do a lot more thinking. All he knew was that he couldn’t go on living like this indefinitely, like a man torn between two worlds.
The terrain they traversed the next morning became rocky and steep. Chase focused on the climb ahead, the mountains looming ever taller in front of him. No one spoke. There was no need. Everyone knew what his job was. He had a pretty good idea of what was expected of him. Grizzly bounded ahead of them. He seemed to know he would play a crucial role in a short time. The dog would help herd the sheep to a designated area, where two of the hunters would lie in wait.
Elk Runner stopped abruptly, halfway up a mountain pass. Silently, he pointed to a flat area covered in sparse grasses and short pine trees that looked more like bushes than trees. Three sheep stood grazing in the distance, their rumps pointed at the men. Daniel hand signaled to Grizzly, and the dog obediently remained with the group, although his eyes and ears were trained on the sheep.
Daniel translated when Elk Runner gave his instructions. “Chase, you and Hawk Soaring will climb up to that ridge, and take cover.” He pointed into the distance. Elk Runner and I will alert the sheep to our presence, and start driving them your way. With any luck, you should be able to bring down one, if not two of them, as they pass by.”
Chase glanced at Hawk, who nodded at him. Staying downwind from the sheep, they slowly climbed up the steep cliff, Hawk ahead of him. When they reached the top of the ridge, the Indian motioned for him to take cover behind a rocky outcropping. More cliff walls loomed behind them. Hawk moved some twenty yards further along, and found cover behind some boulders. It was a waiting game from here on. If the sheep ran straight up the pass, they would run right past them. Chase hoped he could get off a clean shot.
He stayed crouched behind the rocks, listening intently for any sound of hooves on hard ground. All he heard was the wind whistling at this high elevation, an occasional hawk screeching as it soared through the air, or the clucking sounds of the ever-present ravens. How long would it be before Daniel and Elk Runner chased that group of sheep up this incline? He adjusted the arrow he had strung to his bow in anticipation.
He was determined not to look like a fool in front of Hawk, who’d no doubt been on countless hunts like these. Chase glanced up the slope to where Hawk lay in wait. The man stayed as motionless as his surroundings, focused intently on the narrow pass leading downhill. His bow was strung taunt, ready to release his arrow at a second’s notice. Chase wondered if he could ever look as confident and able as this Tukudeka hunter appeared. Hawk had a lifetime of training. There was no comparison between them. If this were a football match, the tables would be turned.
Hawk turned his head slightly, and his eyes met Chase’s. His features turned hard. Apparently, they were both thinking the same thing. While they’d been cordial with each other in the older men’s presence, this was a competition. Chase had no doubt that Hawk believed whoever brought down a sheep would gain favor with Sarah. He smiled to himself. Sarah loves you, not him. Would it really matter to her if he came back with a sheep kill?
It should matter to her, Russell. If he couldn’t bring down game, which he hadn’t been successful at yet, how could he ever hope to care for a wife in this environment?
A rock on the cliff above Hawk Soaring suddenly moved, or had Chase imagined it. Was there a sheep up there above them? He strained his ears to listen, but couldn’t hear anything. He glanced upward, squinting into the bright sunlight. He didn’t see anything at first. Then he noticed the movement again, behind some rocks, directly above Hawk. With a sinking feeling, he realized what it was. While they were lying in wait for their quarry, a different predator was stalking them. A mountain lion was crouched low, its body hugging the rocks, ready to spring at its unsuspecting prey. The cat inched slowly forward, its haunches and forelegs bunched. Its ears lay flat against its head.
Chase’s heart leapt to his stomach. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, leaving his knees rubbery and weak. With a sinking feeling, he knew what was about to happen.
“Hawk, look out!” Chase yelled, and shot up from his position behind the rocks. At the exact same moment, the cougar leapt through the air, landing on top of Hawk, who had barely had the chance to react to Chase’s warning. He whipped his body around, looking up. His hands shot forward in an act of self-defense, as the cat knocked him to the ground. Hawk’s bow fell to the ground several feet away.
“Damn it!” Chase yelled. He raised his bow and aimed, but hesitated. His hands trembled, and he couldn’t hold the weapon steady. There was no way he could get off a clean shot. He wasn’t confident with the weapon, and might hit Hawk instead. Sweat beaded his forehead. He sprinted up the slope. The cougar had Hawk on the ground, tearing into the man’s neck. Hawk struggled underneath the animal, a grimace on his face. His hands wrapped around the cat’s neck, trying in vain to keep the sharp teeth from biting into his flesh. The cougar outmatched him in strength. He’d had no chance to defend himself.
“Goddammit.” With time slipping away, Chase no longer thought consciously of his actions. His body seemed to move on its own. He yanked his tomahawk from his belt and took aim, sprinting up the slope. He knew he couldn’t run up the hill fast enough. His only hope was to put the cat out of commission for a moment to buy him a few seconds. He hit the animal squarely in the head. The cougar dropped to the side, but wasn’t dead. Chase ripped his knife from his belt, clutching the handle. He roared and lunged at the cat. Not giving the predator a chance to recover from the hit with the tomahawk, Chase threw himself on top of the cougar and plunged his knife into its neck. He pulled the knife back, and repeated his action. Sweat ran into his eyes, and he could barely see. The animal thrashed its huge paws through air, raking Chase’s thigh. Pain shot through his leg, but he ignored it. With renewed effort, he threw his entire weight into the cat, twisting the knife into the animal’s throat. After several more violent jerks, the cougar’s body finally went limp.
Chase leapt off the cat. His breath came in short, quick gasps. He turned his head in a frantic motion to find Hawk. He sank to his knees beside the man on the ground. Hawk was covered in blood. A deep tear marred the side of his neck. Blood spewed from the wound with every beat of his heart. His breathing was ragged and shallow. A sheen of sweat covered his face and neck. With trembling hands, Chase hastily pulled his cotton shirt o
ver his head, and pressed it against Hawk’s neck in desperation, hoping to slow the bleeding.
“Come on, buddy, stay with me,” Chase said through clenched teeth. With an impatient swipe of his arm, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He looked up, his eyes darting around the rocks, and down the trail. Where the hell where Daniel or Elk Runner? If the mountain sheep had come this way, he hadn’t noticed. He groaned in frustration, mumbling swear words under his breath. He didn’t know what to do. Other than trying to stop the bleeding, there was nothing he could do.
“Arghh.” Chase looked skyward, imploring the heavens for a sign, anything that would help him save Hawk’s life. He knew it was futile. He kept a firm hand on Hawk’s wound, his shirt already soaked through with blood. His own hand looked as if he’d dunked it in a bowl of red paint. Chase’s entire body shook. He swallowed hard, inhaling the stench of blood and sweat. The dead cat mere feet away emitted a foul and sour odor, reminding Chase of rotten meat.
Why the hell was this happening? Nothing could have prepared him for something like this. This primitive world bested him again. Hawk’s eyes were open wide, a glazed look to them. His hand shot up and he grabbed hold of Chase’s wrist.
“Namaappa’i Imaah,” he said through short gasps for air. “Namaappa’i Imaah.” His grip on Chase’s arm tightened, a frantic look in his eyes.
Chase nodded. He had no idea what Hawk was saying, but it had something to do with Sarah. Hawk’s body stiffened suddenly, and he groaned. A split second later, he went limp, and his hand fell away from Chase’s arm.
“No, goddamit!” Chase yelled. “Don’t die.” He shook the lifeless body. Jumping to his feet, he let out a loud roar in frustration. His own trembling body was drenched in sweat. Chase sank back to the ground on his knees beside Hawk. He bent his head to his chest, his shoulders slumped, and placed a hand over the man’s heart.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. “I’m sorry I wasn’t fast enough.”
Chapter 30
A heavy hand pressed down on Chase’s shoulder. He jerked, trying to dislodge the pressure. He’d been on his knees beside Hawk Soaring’ body for…how long? Time had no meaning anymore. He had no feeling in his legs. His entire body was numb.
The hand remained. Finally, Chase stared unseeing into Daniel’s somber eyes. The older man tightened his grip.
“I didn’t react fast enough,” Chase whispered, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t see the cougar until it was too late.” His head dropped again. He didn’t want to face Daniel or Elk Runner’s accusations.
“I see what has happened here. No one is to blame,” Daniel said. “This was a tragic accident.” His voice sounded like an echo through a tunnel.
Chase rose to his feet at Elk Runner’s urging. He turned away from the older men, kicking at rocks, and holding his hands to his temples.
“What the hell am I doing here?” he roared, his voice reverberating off the mountains. He turned to the cliff wall, pounding his fists into the hard rock, until fresh blood from his fingers and knuckles mixed with the dried blood on his hands.
He fought against the hands pulling him back. Daniel grabbed both his arms and locked them behind his back. The harder Chase jerked and struggled, the firmer the other man’s grip became. Daniel finally wrestled him to the ground.
“I can’t go on like this,” Chase said between clenched teeth, breathing hard. He relaxed his muscles, finally daring to look up into the faces of Daniel and Elk Runner. There was no anger, no contempt, only silent compassion.
“Chase Russell have many evil spirits inside,” Elk Runner said. “Must find way to fight.”
Chase gave a short laugh. “Yeah,” he said in a defeated tone, glancing at the lifeless body of Hawk Soaring a few feet away.
He ran a trembling hand over his face, inhaling deeply. “He said…something to me before he died.” His voice quivered unsteadily. He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to remember the words. “It had something to do with Sarah. I recognized her name. It sounded like …nampi … namapee?” His eyes darted from one man to the other, hoping they might understand.
Daniel and Elk Runner exchanged quick glances.
“Namaappa’i?” Daniel offered.
“Yeah, I think that was it, and then Imaah. That’s Sarah’s name, right?”
Daniel’s lips were drawn in a tight line. His jaw was set firmly, his eyebrows furrowed. “He asked you to take care of Sarah,” he said quietly, finality in his voice.
Chase closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, the weight of the world descending on his shoulders.
*****
Sarah knelt at the river’s edge, dipping a shirt into the water and pulling it back out. She spread it on a rock, and ran a bar of hard lye soap over the material. With vigorous hand motions, she rubbed the fabric together to scrub it clean. Then she dipped it in the water again to rinse. Her mother sat beside her, performing the same task.
A basket piled high with clothing sat between her and her mother. Sarah wrung the water from the shirt, and picked up another one. She held it up. It was one of Samuel’s shirts that Chase had been wearing. Without thought, she held it to her face, inhaling the strong masculine scent of the man who was constantly in her thoughts. They had been gone for a week already. Sheep hunting usually took many days, but a week was about as long as her father and brothers had ever been away.
Realizing what she was doing, she dropped the shirt from her hands. Her cheeks flushed. Her mother wore a soft smile on her face when Sarah darted a quick glance her way.
“Can I ask something, mama?” She turned to look fully at her mother. The older woman laid the shirt she held on the ground, and turned to her daughter.
“What’s on your mind, Sarah?”
“Chase,” Sarah said softly, her gaze dropping to the ground.
“I know that,” her mother chuckled softly. “What about him do you want to know?”
“Tell me of the traditions in his time concerning a man and woman.”
“Oh…well,” she expelled a long breath. “Things are a lot different in his time than here. You’ve grown up knowing only the tribal customs of the Shoshone.”
“Yes, but in his time. How does a woman express her love for a man? Or how does a man ask for a woman he wants to make his wife?”
Sarah wondered at the almost uncomfortable look on her mother’s face. Why was she reluctant to answer?
“A man will usually ask the woman to marry him,” she finally said. “A couple often will live together openly before declaring themselves. Sometimes they part ways if they realize they are not a good match.” She paused, and looked Sarah straight in the eyes. “Relationships between unmarried couples is common in his time, Sarah. Chase doesn’t have the belief that he needs to be married to you in order to kiss you, or…do other things. In his time, a man and woman don’t need to be married to act on their feelings for each other. To him, this is perfectly acceptable. This is why you are confused by his behavior.”
“He tells me he loves me, but he doesn’t say whether he wants me for his wife. He says he can’t provide for me.”
“It sounds like he wants to do the right thing, Sarah. I think he realizes how harsh life here is, and taking care of a wife requires certain skills. According to your father, he is making great progress. He comes from a time when men don’t go hunting for food anymore. It’s just always available. Providing for a family is different in his time than it is now. Learning all these new skills is very hard.”
“So, it is okay that he says he loves me?” Sarah tried to understand. “It is acceptable that he kisses me, even if he hasn’t asked for me?”
“To his way of thinking, yes. Just make sure it is acceptable to you.”
“Did you kiss papa before you were married to him?”
“Yes, I did,” her mother smiled. “It was complicated for him. He grew up with all the same traditions as you. He struggled, because he couldn’t go to anyone to ask for me.”<
br />
“So what did he do?”
“Well, he…ah, we just took it upon ourselves.”
Comprehension dawned. “Oh,” Sarah said, her face flaming again. She picked up Chase’s shirt, and dipped it in the water absently.
“Has Chase mentioned anything more about finding the device to send him home?” she asked after a long silence.
“Not to my knowledge,” her mother reached her hand out and placed it on Sarah’s shoulder. “Like I said, he’s been trying really hard to fit in here. I can see the love in his eyes for you, Sarah.” She smiled warmly. Sarah smiled back. This conversation had been very informative.
"Do you ever miss your old life?" Sarah asked, after more minutes of silence.
Her mother took a deep breath. She stared out across the expanse of the river. “There are times I miss certain things, certain people I left behind.” She looked at Sarah. “But I’ve never regretted my decision. I was meant to be here. I knew that early on.”
Sarah nodded. Chase didn’t feel the same. He didn’t believe he belonged here. In silence, they finished their laundry. Sarah carried the basket to the clothesline behind the cabin. Rope had been strung between two trees, and Sarah hung the clothing up to dry. In her mind, she went over the things her mother had told her. It gave her a better understanding of Chase’s behavior. In his time, it wasn’t shameful for men and women to kiss when they loved each other. Her mother had even hinted that more than kissing was acceptable behavior. Chase had mentioned he was trying to behave himself. Is that what he had meant? He was trying to stay within the boundaries she had grown up with? Would it be so bad if she acted more like a woman he might be accustomed to?
Sarah’s hands trembled at the thought. She had limited knowledge of these things. It wasn’t something that was openly discussed. Of course, she knew what the act of mating entailed. As it applied to people, she only knew that it was a husband’s responsibility to teach his wife. Chase could teach her. Where he came from, it was accepted that a man and woman didn’t need to be married to carry out the act. He was making an effort to behave in ways she was accustomed to. She could do the same for him, couldn’t she?
Yellowstone Redemption Page 24
